C. Frederick "Todd" Wehr (April 14, 1889 -September 28, 1965) was an industrialist and philanthropist. He was co-founder of the Wehr Steel Company and founder of the Todd Wehr Foundation, Inc.

Biography

Wehr was a graduate of West Division High School in

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at th ...

, and of

Cornell University Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to teach an ...

, in

Ithaca, New York Ithaca is a city in the Finger Lakes region of New York, United States. Situated on the southern shore of Cayuga Lake, Ithaca is the seat of Tompkins County and the largest community in the Ithaca metropolitan statistical area. It is named a ...

. He and his brothers comprised the executive team of the Wehr Steel Company, which was founded in 1910 by his father, Henry Wehr. The company manufactured steel alloy castings for machine parts, magnetic separators, and brakes. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, it received numerous "E" awards from the government for excellence in steel production. In 1958, when the company was re-organized as a division of the Wehr Corporation, Wehr became the chairman of the board, a position he held until his retirement in 1963. Venturedyne bought Wehr Steel in 1986.

Todd Wehr Foundation

Wehr left the bulk of his estate to a trust set up for charitable religious, scientific and educational purposes. Many Wisconsin universities and cultural organizations have benefited from the Todd Wehr Foundation, including

Viterbo University Viterbo University is a private Catholic university in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Founded in 1890 by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, Viterbo is home to three colleges with nine schools offering 48 academic programs at the associate, bac ...

, which received a grant to renovate the facility that now bears the name Todd Wehr Memorial Library.

Marquette University Marquette University () is a Private university, private Society of Jesus, Jesuit research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Established by the Society of Jesus as Marquette College on August 28, 1881, it was founded by John Henni, John Martin ...

also benefited from Wehr's philanthropy. Marquette has named its entire science complex after Wehr as well as a theater. The

Milwaukee School of Engineering The Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) is a private university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The campus is in the East Town neighborhood of downtown Milwaukee. The school's enrollment of 2,820 includes 224 graduate students. As of fall 2018, ...

has an auditorium dedicated in his name as well. The Todd Wehr Foundation is focused primarily on local Milwaukee giving, with an emphasis on elementary and high schools. The foundation focuses on large memorial gifts payable over several years, with emphasis on capital projects affecting children.

Legacy

Carroll University Carroll University is a private university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) and located in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Established in 1846, Carroll was Wisconsin's first four-year institution of higher learning. History Prior to its esta ...

in Waukesha has a Todd Wehr Memorial Library. *

Carthage College Carthage College is a private college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It enrolls 2,600 full-time and 200 part-time students. Carthage awards bachelor's degrees with majors in more th ...

Kenosha Kenosha () is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the seat of Kenosha County. Per the 2020 census, the population was 99,986 which made it the fourth-largest city in Wisconsin. Situated on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, Kenosh ...

has a Todd Wehr Center, which houses the Dean of Students office, conference rooms, and a cafeteria. *

Lakeland College (Wisconsin) Lakeland University is a private university with its main campus in Plymouth, Wisconsin. Lakeland University is affiliated with the United Church of Christ. Lakeland also has seven evening, weekend, and online centers located throughout the st ...

in Sheboygan has a Todd Wehr Center, which contains The Moose & Dona Woltzen Gymnasium, intramural fieldhouse, fitness center, weight room, and athletic offices. *

Concordia University Wisconsin Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW) is a private Lutheran university in Mequon, Wisconsin. It is part of the eight-member Concordia University System operated by the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS). The university is a coeducational in ...

Mequon Mequon () is the largest city in Ozaukee County, in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, and the third-largest city in Wisconsin by land area. Located on Lake Michigan's western shore with significant commercial developments along Interstate 43, the comm ...

has a Todd Wehr Auditorium. *

Edgewood College Edgewood College is a private Dominican college in Madison, Wisconsin. The college occupies a campus overlooking the shores of Lake Wingra. History The Edgewood College property was bought in 1855 by Mr. Ashmead from Governor Leonard J. Farw ...

Madison, Wisconsin Madison is the county seat of Dane County and the capital city of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census the population was 269,840, making it the second-largest city in Wisconsin by population, after Milwaukee, and the 80th-lar ...

has a Todd Wehr Edgedome. *

has a science complex and a theatre named after Wehr. * The

Medical College of Wisconsin The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is a private medical school, pharmacy school, and graduate school of sciences headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school was established in 1893 and is the largest research center in eastern Wisconsin ...

Wauwatosa Wauwatosa (; known informally as Tosa; originally Wau-wau-too-sa or Hart's Mill) is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 48,387 at the 2020 census. Wauwatosa is located immediately west of Milwaukee, and is a pa ...

has a Todd Wehr Memorial Library. *

had the Todd Wehr Conference Center. (The TWCC was renovated into a campus welcome center in 2021) * Ripon College in

Ripon Ripon () is a cathedral city in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. The city is located at the confluence of two tributaries of the River Ure, the Laver and Skell. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, the city ...

has a building dedicated to Todd Wehr, which houses the mathematics, business, educational studies, and psychology departments. *

St. Norbert College St. Norbert College (SNC) is a private Norbertine liberal arts college in De Pere, Wisconsin. Founded in October 1898 by Abbot Bernard Pennings, a Norbertine priest and educator, the school was named after Saint Norbert of Xanten. In 1952, the c ...

De Pere De Pere ( ) is a city located in Brown County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 25,410 according to the 2020 Census. De Pere is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area. History At the arrival of the first European, Je ...

has a Todd Wehr Hall, which used to serve as the campus library. *

La Crosse La Crosse is a city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, La Crosse County. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border. La Crosse's populat ...

has a Todd Wehr Memorial Library. *

Wehr Nature Center Wehr Nature Center is a nature preserve located in Hales Corners, Wisconsin: it is part of Whitnall Park. It was named for philanthropist Todd Wehr whose foundation donated $200,000 USD to help build the center. History The center opened in 1974 ...

, part of Milwaukee County Parks, is named after Wehr. * Todd Wehr Alumni Center at Marian University in Fond du Lac, WI. * Todd Wehr Theater in the

Marcus Center for the Performing Arts The Marcus Performing Arts Center is a performing arts center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Managed by a non-profit organization, it is marketed as Milwaukee's premier presenter of the performing arts. It is located at 929 North Water St ...

in Milwaukee, WI. http://www.marcuscenter.org/todd-wehr-theater/ * Todd Wehr Gymnasium at the Milwaukee Academy of Science * Todd Wehr foundation supported St. Marcus Lutheran Church and school * Todd Wehr foundation supported Wisconsin Lutheran High School * Todd Wehr foundation supported Risen Savior Lutheran Church and school *Todd Wehr Gymnasium at the Milwaukee Academy of Science in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Notes

External links

Todd Wehr Memorial Library, Viterbo University, La Crosse, Wisconsin
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wehr, Todd 1889 births 1965 deaths Businesspeople from Milwaukee Marquette University people Cornell University alumni 20th-century American businesspeople